Wolves must plot Aston Villa transfer to reunite Rob Edwards with ex-star | OneFootball

Wolves should be looking to sign Ross Barkley this summer following his release from Aston Villa

Wolverhampton Wanderers are preparing for their return to the Championship for the first time in eight years, with Rob Edwards looking to ensure his side's stay outside the top flight is as short as possible.

Wolves' miserable relegation had been all but confirmed months before it was made official, with the Old Gold finishing rock bottom of the Premier League with just three wins all season, picking up just 20 points.

Numerous stars are set to depart the club this summer upon the demotion, with each of Joao Gomes, Santiago Bueno, and Ladislav Krejci, to name a few, all likely to be on their way out of Molineux over the coming months.

Brazilian midfielder Andre has shocked fans by signing a new four-year deal with Wolves, whilst the club hopes to keep a hold of the likes of Mateus Mane, Adam Armstrong, and Rodrigo Gomes ahead of the upcoming campaign.

Edwards is keen to get business underway and has done so by making a swift move for veteran full-back Kieran Trippier following his release from Newcastle United, and the Welsh boss should look to do a similar trick with another out-of-contract former England international who has previously thrived under him in the top flight.

Ross Barkley has had an excellent career, even if he may not have lived up to his early hype when breaking through with his boyhood Everton.

The midfielder has made over 300 Premier League appearances during his career to date with the likes of Everton, Chelsea, Luton Town, and Aston Villa, the latter of whom he has just helped on their way to a Europa League title.

Out of contract at the end of the season, Barkley, 32, looks set to leave Villa Park this summer, though the European champions do possess the option to extend his terms by a further year if they so wish, but having played less than 900 minutes of league football this campaign, that seems unlikely.

According to journalist Alan Nixon, Coventry had shown interest in the former England international, potentially linking back up with former Chelsea boss Frank Lampard, whilst Nixon further reported that Fulham were another club tracking his services over a return to West London.

At just 32 years old, Barkley has a lot left to give at the pinnacle of the game, but Edwards should do everything in his power to lure him across Birmingham to Wolverhampton this summer.

The pair worked together in Luton's only season in the Premier League just two years ago, with the Liverpudlian scoring five and assisting five in 32 top-flight appearances for the Hatters off the back of a quiet spell on the French South Coast with Nice.

Barkley's mini career renaissance with Luton reminded many of the capability and technical excellence he has in his locker, as Villa acted quickly to snap him up following their relegation.

Now, his time with Villa is coming to an end, and Wolves should look to make a real coup by bringing the former England international to Molineux this summer to link up with Trippier, with the pair having the potential to be a real cheat code in the second tier.

Together, Barkley and Trippier have 87 England caps between them, and although their combined age is now 67, the duo's technical quality cannot be ignored, and they could cause havoc against Championship defences next year.

Edwards should do everything in his power to make this deal a possibility, with Barkley having the potential to be the difference between promotion and remaining in the Championship for Wolves next season.

Wolves must ensure the upcoming summer window is perfectly managed to make their stay in the Championship as short as possible

This upcoming transfer window is huge for an array of clubs across the second tier, but few others must ensure they make the most of it than Wolves.

The Black Country outfit simply cannot afford to spend too long in the second tier, as the longer they spend there, the more difficult it will be to eventually get out of it.

With a large portion of the squad expected to depart this summer, a huge influx of money will be heading their way on top of parachute payments, but such a huge turnover brings its own problems.

Edwards needs players that are up for the fight in the Championship, and ones that have the experience and quality to get Wolves out at the first time of asking.

With the Trippier deal over the line, the Welshman must give Barkley a call to try and convince him to head to the second tier at this stage of his career, with the former England international being a game-changer at that level.